First section of Okanagan Rail Trail opens today

You can check out a developed portion of the Okanagan Rail Trail today (July 29) in Lake Country.

The Rail Trail Interjurisdictional Development Team will unveil a one-kilometre test section of the trail this Saturday that has been developed over the past couple of weeks by Sureway Construction.

The trail has been widened with a smoother surface added in the section between McCarthy Road and Lodge Road in Lake Country.

“The purpose of the test section is to help determine the methods, costs, and schedule for the remainder of the trail,” stated the development team in inviting people to come out and learn the process and see and feel the trail.

Called the Rail Trail Showcase, the event is an open house-style event where the public is invited to walk or ride their bike on the recently-constructed showcase section from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

The Rail Trail Showcase will have an area of tents with information boards at the south end of the trail near McCarthy Road. People are welcome to read the info boards and then test out the trail by walking or riding their bikes. The finished test section is roughly one-kilometre long, not including a 400 metre section of unfinished trail, which must be traveled on to reach the newly constructed section. The trail is not paved and is made of crushed aggregate.

There is limited parking on-site. The public is asked to park along McCarthy Road, with overflow parking at Swalwell Park (9950 Bottom Wood Lake Rd), Winfield Arena (9830 Bottom Wood Lake Rd). If parking in overflow, people are encouraged to bring their bikes and ride to the trail head (roughly 750m or a 10 min walk).

The Interjurisdictional Team includes members from the District of Lake Country, City of Kelowna, Regional District of the North Okanagan, and the Okanagan Indian Band.

Construction services for the test section were donated by Dennis O’Rourke and The Chase Wines.

Construction of a one-kilometre test section of the Okanagan Rail Trail will be unveiled this Saturday.